Hello everyone, and welcome to the second chapter of this story! Thank you all for waiting soooo long for this! Originally, this was going to be a two part story, but it's going to take three chapters now to finish this off. Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter, and a special shout-out to all of you who left such lovely reviews. They made my day!
Of course, I do not own MASH and its characters, but I do own Mary Cooper and this little story.
Enjoy!
No One Said it Would Be Easy: Chapter Two
Mary Cooper decided that she had spent too many nights fighting with herself – and God – about her feelings for Father Mulcahy. She was more convinced now than ever that she was in love with the camp chaplain, one of the few men in camp who was completely and permanently out of reach. Despite trying to maintain her professionalism and conceal her feelings, Mary found that each day became more of a trial. She was so desperate, she had almost considered telling him of her love.
Almost.
That brought her to where she was now, shoulders squared as she knocked on Major Margaret Houlihan's door. The forms in her hands had been carefully filled out and triple-checked. She took a deep breath. There was no turning back now.
Margaret appeared in the doorway, surprised to see Mary standing before her. "Lieutenant Cooper."
"Hello, Major. Do you have a minute?"
Margaret nodded, opening the door a little wider. "Come in." Margaret settled herself at her desk, and Mary sat down. "What do you need to discuss, Cooper?"
Taking a deep breath, Mary presented her papers and quietly said, "Major, I would like to request a transfer."
Margaret felt her jaw drop. "I beg your pardon?"
"I am requesting a transfer."
"Why on earth are you requesting a transfer?"
"I feel that there are certain…distractions here, which are keeping me from performing to the utmost of my capabilities and diverting my attention from the reason I came here in the first place."
Margaret was clearly skeptical. "Well, this certainly comes as a surprise, Cooper. I haven't seen anything lately that would lead me to think the same."
"I think that I might be better suited at another MASH unit, ma'am."
"Well, I appreciate that but, for the time being, I see no reason why you should move. Your work is as good as it's ever been, and you're one of my best nurses. It will take a lot before I let you go, Cooper, but don't take that to your head."
Mary bit her lip. "Thank you, Major, but I really think that-"
"What is this distraction?"
Mary averted her gaze. "I'd rather not say, ma'am."
Margaret sighed in frustration. "If you're expecting me to recommend this transfer to Colonel Potter, you're going to have to provide me with a convincing reason," she challenged.
In a quiet voice, the nurse replied, "I can't stay here with him."
Against her will, Margaret felt her countenance soften. "Captain Pierce has caused quite a few broken hearts among the nurses, Cooper. You're not the first."
Mary's brow furrowed with confusion. "Oh, no, ma'am. I'm not speaking of Captain Pierce."
"But I thought that your relationship with him just ended?"
"It did. I ended it, ma'am. I'm ashamed to admit that I only went out with Captain Pierce in the hopes of having a distraction."
"Then who is it you cannot stay here with?"
Mary's face conveyed the agony she felt at having to reveal her secret. As she opened her mouth to respond, the two women heard someone call, "Good day, Father!" The expression on Mary's face told Margaret all she needed to know, and Margaret's eyes widened as she asked, "Father Mulcahy?"
Mary nodded, feeling thoroughly ashamed.
"Oh my."
"I really have tried to make things work here, Major," Mary defended. "For months I've been trying to get over these stupid feelings, but I just can't. I want to serve my country, and that's what I want my attention to be on – not my own heartache. I believe that getting away from here will help me focus on why I came to Korea in the first place."
Leaning back in her chair, Margaret thought for a moment. Compassion was not a characteristic for which she was known, but she couldn't help but pity the poor girl standing in front of her. She was in love with a man she could not have. Being around him every day would only make it worse. Under any other circumstances, Margaret would have told the nurse to get over her feelings and get back to work. But she was used to dealing with nurses who were trying to get over a certain Captain, rather than their mild-mannered chaplain. Margaret surprised herself as she said, "I cannot make you any promises, but I will recommend a transfer."
Mary gasped. "What?"
"Mary, you have done everything I have ever asked of you and more. If anyone has earned a transfer, it's you. And…I know what it is like to have to face someone you love, but cannot have. You don't need to endure that pain."
"Major, I don't know what to say."
"Don't worry about that, yet. Nothing happens until I talk to Colonel Potter."
With a sigh of relief, Mary said, "Thank you, Major."
Margaret smiled as the younger girl hurried out. Yes, she was sure she had done the right thing. Perhaps, over time, Mary would get over her love for Father Mulcahy, but Margaret had a feeling that she never would. And if that was the case, things would be hard enough for her without having to see him every day.
Chuckling, she whispered to herself, "Wait until Hawkeye finds out he was passed over for a priest."
Sherman Potter could barely overcome his shock as he read the forms and listened to Margaret. "I have to say, Major," he began, "Cooper is the last nurse I would have expected you to be recommending for a transfer."
"I'm surprised to be recommending it, myself."
"But you're not doing a very good job of convincing me. What personal reasons does she have for transferring? Is this about Pierce? Or is it because Winchester treats her like a child in the operating room? Because I can just have a talk with her about Charles."
Leaning forward in her seat, Margaret said, "I hardly believed it at first, but she's in love with Father Mulcahy."
Potter nearly fell out of his seat in shock. "She's what?"
"I know!"
"Is she really?"
"Yes, sir."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
Potter shook his head. "Well, well, well. I wondered why she'd suddenly been avoiding him lately – and why she was so interested in Hawkeye all of a sudden. But Father Mulcahy? Who would have thought?"
"Normally I would never let a nurse use an unhappy love affair as an excuse for a transfer, but…Colonel, you know I'm not religious, but I feel as though some higher power is telling me that this is the right thing to do."
"Well," began Potter, "I am religious, and I have the same feeling. I've always said to go with your instincts, so I'll have Klinger put this through."
Margaret smiled. "She'll be very glad, sir. And so will my conscience."
"If anyone asks, we'll say this is just a routine transfer – no request."
Margaret nodded, standing. "Thank you, sir."
Potter smiled. "Father Mulcahy? This is the second nurse we've had show interest in him. Maybe I need to have a talk with him."
Colonel Potter waited until the transfer officially came through before he told Father Mulcahy that he needed to speak with him.
Father Mulcahy stepped into Colonel Potter's office. "You wanted to see me, Colonel?"
Potter nodded, "Yes, Padre. Sit down. Well, it's protocol for me to inform you about transfers, correct?"
The chaplain nodded. "Yes, sir. Has the request for another doctor come through?"
"Not this time. We're actually transferring someone out."
"Oh?"
"Yes, Mary Cooper."
Father Mulcahy's eyes widened. He could hardly believe his ears. She was leaving? Leaving, to never return? Leaving him? "M-Mary Cooper, sir?"
Potter tried to conceal his smirk at Father Mulcahy's reaction. So the feelings are mutual, he mused. "Yes."
"Why?" Father Mulcahy choked out.
Given the heartbroken expression on the young priest's face, Potter was tempted to tell him the real reason, but he knew that it wasn't his place. "It's just a routine transfer, Padre."
Father Mulcahy swallowed hard. "Right, of course, sir. Has Lieutenant Cooper been informed, yet?"
Potter nodded. "Major Houlihan told her this afternoon."
"Very well. Uh, I suppose I should…I should…confession! I need to get ready for confession." Flustered, he quickly got up. "Thank you for telling me, Colonel."
As Father Mulcahy left the office, Potter leaned back in his chair. A priest and a nurse? It sounded like a Hollywood movie.
Gazing around the Mess Tent, Father Mulcahy was unsure if he was disappointed or thrilled to find that the only free spot was beside Mary. He took a deep breath and approached her. "Room for one more, here?"
She nodded, sliding down the bench. "Of course, Father."
"So," he began awkwardly, trying to sound like his usual, chipper self. "I hear that you're being transferred?"
"Yes," she answered, hoping he wouldn't press her on the subject. "I leave for the 8063rd at the end of the week."
"Are you glad to be going?"
"Um…I suppose I am. I'm looking forward to the change. Of course, I'll miss everyone here, but it's for the best, I'm sure."
Father Mulcahy nodded. "Of course. Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways. This transfer must be part of His plan." He inwardly rolled his eyes at himself. She didn't need to hear him convincing himself that there was a reason she was leaving.
They ate quietly for a moment, and Mary began to panic inside. Was she doing the right thing? Was she just running away from her problems? Then, she remembered what Father Mulcahy had just said – it was God's plan that she leave. Leave him.
Abruptly standing, she said, "I'm sorry, Father, I just remembered I have to start my shift early. Please excuse me."
She hurried out before he could respond. Saturday couldn't come soon enough.
Saturday seemed like just another day to most in the 4077th, but to Francis Mulcahy, it was the day everything would change. He was annoyed that it was so sunny – how could one properly sulk and be miserable on such a beautiful day?
All too soon, he found himself standing out in the compound with Hawkeye, BJ, Margaret, and Colonel Potter. BJ and Hawkeye joked with Mary until her jeep arrived and then both bid her heartfelt goodbyes. Mary saluted both Margaret and Potter and then turned to Father Mulcahy.
"So…" she began. "Um…"
"Take care of yourself, Mary," he said quietly, giving her the best smile he could muster.
She nodded. "Thank you for everything, Father. I'll never forget you."
Their eyes met and they held their gaze a moment too long before they awkwardly shook hands and Mary hurried over to her jeep. Closing her eyes to fight back tears, Mary told herself that she had done the right thing – or at least, the necessary thing.
Meanwhile, Father Mulcahy retreated to his tent, not noticing the meaningful glance Margaret and Colonel Potter shared.
He supposed that he should have been glad about it. She was gone. No more distractions. No more nights spent in agony-filled prayer. But as Father Mulcahy closed the door to his tent, all he could feel was loss.
He flung himself down onto his cot, burying his head in his hands. He had never thought that being forbidden from marrying would be this hard. His heart ached as he tried to come to terms with the fact that he would never see her again.
Poor Father Mulcahy!
But I'm not so cruel that I'm ending it there – expect the very last chapter within the week!
Thank you for reading, and please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter!
Merry Christmas!
OnMyOwn1832